Southern California -- this just in

May Day protests 'festive' at Olympic and Broadway

May 1, 2012 | 2:13
pm

Police officers and street vendors seemed to outnumber protesters at a May Day march and rally Tuesday afternoon at Olympic Boulevard and South Broadway in downtown L.A.

Hundreds of demonstrators from the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, the Party of Socialism and Liberation and the Latino health activist group Bienestar gathered at the intersection about 1 p.m. to rally and begin marching to Pershing Square, where a larger rally was planned.

Thousands of protesters were expected to participate in May Day rallies across Los Angeles to register their views on a variety of issues, including fair labor practices, immigration and income inequality.

Photo: A banner reading "Legalization Now! Immigration Reform, Good Jobs and Education for All " lies across Broadway before the start of a May Day march in downtown Los Angeles. Credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times